California Leopold Conservation Award seeks nominees

SACRAMENTO – Sand County Foundation, the California Farm Bureau Federation and Sustainable Conservation are accepting applications for the $10,000 Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors California farmers, ranchers and other private landowners who demonstrate responsible stewardship and management of natural resources.

“Our 2012 California Leopold Conservation Award winner, Dino Giacomazzi, is an outstanding land steward, but he isn’t the only landowner doing exceptional work for natural resources in California,” said Brent Haglund, Sand County Foundation President. “We look forward to honoring more innovative farmers and ranchers, like Dino, who are committed to the enhancement of California’s rich and diverse agricultural landscape.”

Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the Leopold Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. It inspires other landowners through these examples and provides a visible forum where farmers, ranchers and other private landowners are recognized as conservation leaders. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage, which he called “an evolutionary possibility and an ecological necessity.”

The Leopold Conservation Award is possible thanks to contributions from many organizations, including The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation.

Nominations must be postmarked by July 12 and mailed to Leopold Conservation Award c/o Sustainable Conservation, 98 Battery Street, Suite 302, San Francisco, CA 94111. The 2013 Leopold Conservation Award will be presented in December at the California Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Monterey.

For application information, go tot www.leopoldconservationaward.org.